Lectio Divina Reading
August 26, 2004
Opening Psalm -- Psalm 33
Parable of the ten wedding attendants Matthew 25:1-13
Then the kingdom of Heaven will be like this: Ten wedding attendants took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, the foolish ones, though they took their lamps, took no oil with them, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, "Look! The bridegroom! Go out and meet him." Then all those wedding attendants woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, "Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out." But they replied, "there may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and but some for yourselves." They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other attendants arrived later. "Lord, Lord," they said, "open the door for us." But he replied, "In truth I tell you, I do not know you." So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.
St. Augustine"O eternal truth, true love and beloved eternity. You are my God. To you do I sigh day and night. When I first came to know you, you drew me to yourself so that I might see that there were things for me to see, but that I myself was not yet ready to see them. Meanwhile you overcame the weakness of my vision, sending forth most strongly the beams of your light, and I trembled at once with love and read."
St. Catherine of Siena
God Speaks: The sign of lively faith is perseverance in prayer. The faithful soul never turns back for any reason, never leaves off praying except out of duty and out of charity, for the devil is especially active in your times of meditation and contemplation. He wants your prayer to be tedious, tempting you with words such as: "Meditation is of no use to you. Stick to vocal prayers." He does this to tire you out, to confuse you, to tempt you to abandon meditation and contemplation. For such prayer when grasped by the hand of Love, with the arm of free choice, and in the light of faith, is the weapon best designed to defend your soul against every enemy of the sprit. Remember, therefore, that it is by humble, continual, and faithful prayer that the soul acquires, with time and perseverance, every virtue. Pray always. Persevere. Do not abandon prayer because of the illusory words of the Devil or your own fragility.
All through the day: Pray Always
My Day is ending, I respond:
Be my companion through the darkness of the night. Here in the silence I confess that I tire easily, that at times praying seems tedious, even useless, and I am ready to leave your presence. Don’t let me surrender in confusion, but let me grasp with the hand of love, with the arm of free choice, and the light of faith, the truth that I do not pray alone. You have loved me even before I existed, and knowing this, I can place my trust in your love and set aside every fear. Amen
Lectio Divina
for CP Groups
Contemplative Outreach of Dallas